The Silver Dawn

Ariel stood in front of the mirror, staring at his own reflection.

His eyes were tired, but there were no signs of the breakdown from the night before. No redness, no traces of tears. It was as if it had never happened.

He clenched his jaw.

"Showing weakness will only hold me back."

The words echoed in his mind like an ironclad rule, a new law he had written for himself.

Whatever emotions threatened to consume him—the grief, the guilt, the unbearable hollow ache—he would bury them.

For now, he would move forward.

Because there was no other choice.

A sharp knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Ariel!"

Arthur's voice.

Ariel exhaled, letting his face settle into its usual, impassive expression before pulling the door open.

Arthur stood there, arms crossed, his ever-present smirk in place. But his eyes flickered over Ariel's face with an unreadable look.

"You look like shit."

Ariel rolled his eyes. "Good morning to you too."

Arthur grinned, stepping aside. "Hate to break it to you, but no time for breakfast today. The knights are already waiting for you at the training grounds."

Ariel frowned. "More training?"

Arthur gave a dramatic shrug. "Well, they're treating you like their next great savior, so yeah. Get used to it."

Ariel stiffened at the words but said nothing.

Arthur tilted his head. "You good?"

"Fine," Ariel said shortly. "Let's go."

Arthur eyed him for a second longer but didn't push.

Together, they made their way toward the Citadel's lower training grounds—where the real training would begin.

The First Soul Fragment

The moment Ariel stepped into the training grounds, he could tell that today was different.

There were fewer knights, but they were higher-ranked. Their eyes followed him—not with suspicion, but with expectation.

At the center of the field stood the Overseer.

She turned at his arrival, her golden gaze unreadable as she gestured for him to approach.

Ariel swallowed down his unease and stepped forward.

The Overseer studied him for a moment before speaking. "The time has come for you to take your next step."

Ariel remained silent.

She lifted a hand, and in her palm rested a small crystalline object, pulsating faintly with silver and black light.

It wasn't a gemstone. It wasn't metal.

It was something alive.

Ariel felt his breath hitch.

"What is that?" he asked quietly.

The Overseer's gaze didn't waver. "Your first Soul Fragment."

Ariel hesitated. He had heard the term before, whispered among the initiates, but no one had ever explained what it truly meant.

The Overseer's voice remained steady. "When a powerful creature dies, the core of its being—its essence, its soul—is sometimes condensed into a fragment. Those fragments can be absorbed by Legacy wielders, fueling their growth, strengthening their mana, and in rare cases… pushing them closer to breaking their Seals."

Ariel's fingers twitched.

"So… it's part of something that was alive?"

"Yes."

Ariel frowned, staring at the fragment. "What happens when I absorb it?"

The Overseer's golden eyes flickered. "That depends on you."

Ariel exhaled slowly. Then, carefully, he reached out and touched it.

The moment his fingers brushed against the fragment, a pulse of energy rippled through his arm.

For a brief second, he felt something foreign enter his mana pathways—something ancient, something hungry.

Then, as quickly as it came, the feeling vanished.

Ariel pulled back, heart pounding. "What was that?"

The Overseer watched him closely. "A glimpse of what lies beyond."

Ariel didn't like the sound of that.

Arthurs voice sounded behind him "We all got one don't worry too much... although not that high of a rank... how lucky" 

But he said nothing.

The Newcomers

By the time training ended, Ariel's muscles felt like lead.

The Overseer had been relentless, pushing him through a grueling session of combat drills, forcing him to repeat maneuvers over and over until he was past the point of exhaustion.

He wasn't even sure how he managed to make it back to the upper halls, but somehow, he did.

And that's when Arthur grabbed his arm.

"Come on, you're meeting the others."

Ariel blinked. "What?"

Arthur smirked. "You didn't think I'd let you keep being a brooding loner forever, did you?"

Ariel sighed. "Arthur, I don't—"

"Too bad. Let's go."

Before Ariel could argue, Arthur dragged him down the corridor toward an open balcony area overlooking the training grounds.

Ariel wasn't sure what to expect when Arthur dragged him toward the open-air terrace.

The training grounds stretched below, filled with initiates honing their combat forms, but here, on the balcony, the air felt lighter—the noise distant, the tension less suffocating.

And waiting for them were two people he had never met before.

Arthur smirked, clapping a hand on Ariel's back. "Alright, introductions time."

Ariel sighed, already regretting this.

Arthur gestured toward the first person. "This brooding guy here is Alaric. He doesn't talk much, but don't take it personally."

Ariel took in the young man standing before him.

Alaric was tall and broad-shouldered, with blond hair that fell just slightly into his wheat-colored eyes. His features were rugged, not conventionally handsome, but there was something solid about him—like a mountain that wouldn't budge.

His posture was disciplined, controlled, like someone who had been drilled in combat since childhood. But there was something measured in his gaze, something that hinted at a deeper restraint.

Alaric simply gave a nod. "Ariel."

Ariel returned the nod. "Alaric."

Arthur smirked. "Wow, incredible conversation. Truly a bond for the ages."

Alaric ignored him.

Arthur then turned to the second person. "And this is Summer. Don't let the name fool you—she can probably fry you alive if she wanted to."

Summer chuckled softly, stepping forward.

She had long auburn hair that cascaded over her shoulders and vivid blue eyes that crackled with intelligence. Her build was athletic, with the kind of grace that only came from years of training.

Unlike Alaric, her expression was open—warm, even. She extended a hand toward Ariel. "It's nice to finally meet you."

Ariel hesitated only for a second before shaking her hand. "Likewise."

Arthur leaned against the railing. "Alright, now that we're all best friends, it's time for the fun part—introducing ourselves like actual people instead of strangers forced into a group."

Alaric rolled his eyes. "You first, then."

Arthur grinned. "Gladly."

He cleared his throat dramatically before placing a hand on his chest. "I am Arthur, heir to absolutely nothing important, wielder of the Greater Legacy of Wind, breaker of hearts, and future legend of the Lightbound Order."

Summer groaned. "You're insufferable."

Arthur winked. "It's part of my charm."

Ariel resisted the urge to sigh.

Arthur turned toward him expectantly. "Alright, your turn."

Ariel blinked. "What?"

"You know, introduce yourself," Arthur said, waving a hand. "Basic stuff—where you're from, why you're here, what makes you special—aside from the whole 'Chosen One' thing."

Ariel stiffened.

He didn't like talking about himself.

But he also knew that hiding wouldn't work forever.

He exhaled slowly, crossing his arms. "I'm Ariel. I'm from Eldrin. Or, what's left of it."

The lightness in the air vanished instantly.

Alaric's gaze sharpened slightly. Summer's smile faded. Even Arthur looked different for a second.

Ariel wasn't sure why he had said it so bluntly.

Maybe part of him wanted to see their reactions.

Maybe part of him just… didn't care anymore.

Arthur was the first to speak. His usual smirk was still in place, but his voice was quieter. "You're the one from the ruins."

Ariel met his gaze. "Yeah."

Arthur held his stare for a second longer, then nodded slightly. "Alright."

That was all he said.

No questions. No pity.

Just acceptance.

Ariel didn't know why, but it made his chest feel just a little lighter.

Alaric spoke next. "I'm from the capital." His voice was deep, steady. "My family serves the Order. I joined because I wanted to carry on their legacy."

His words were simple, but there was something firm in them—something unshakable.

Arthur snorted. "And because you have a weird obsession with justice."

Alaric shot him a glare. "Justice isn't an obsession. It's a principle."

Arthur grinned. "Yeah, yeah. You sound like my grandfather."

Ariel glanced at Alaric. "Your Legacy?"

Alaric's expression didn't change. "The Dragon Fafnir."

Ariel's breath hitched.

That name wasn't just famous. It was legendary.

One of the strongest Ascendant Legacies known in history—powerful, durable, and nearly unbreakable in battle.

Alaric continued. "It's a heavy burden. But one I chose to bear. While. I may not be as good as Arthur I am quite the capable warrior myself"

Arthur nudged him "How flattering"

Ariel nodded slowly.

Summer spoke next. "I'm from the northern provinces."

Ariel turned his attention to her.

"My father was a knight, my mother a healer," she said. "I joined the Order because… well, I wanted to prove myself."

Ariel frowned. "Prove yourself?"

Summer smiled, but there was something guarded in it. "Let's just say people tend to assume things about you when you look a certain way."

Ariel didn't ask for details, but he understood what she meant.

Arthur piped up. "She means people won't stop trying to flirt with her instead of taking her seriously in battle."

Summer punched him in the arm.

Arthur wheezed. "See? Violent tendencies."

Ariel shook his head.

Then, he asked the last question. "Your Legacy?"

Summer's blue eyes sparked faintly. "Greater Legacy of Lightning."

Ariel processed that. Lightning Legacies were rare, but incredibly dangerous. Fast, overwhelming, and unpredictable.

Arthur grinned. "And now that we've all bonded over our tragic backstories and cool powers, I say we officially form an alliance."

Ariel raised an eyebrow. "An alliance?"

Arthur nodded sagely. "Yes. A brotherhood forged in blood and suffering."

Alaric sighed. "What he means is, we look out for each other."

Arthur pointed at him. "See? He gets it."

Ariel glanced at the three of them—Arthur's relaxed confidence, Alaric's quiet strength, Summer's warm determination.

He hadn't expected to be dragged into a group.

He hadn't expected to feel… anything about it.

But now, standing here, he realized—

Maybe this wasn't so bad.

Maybe, for the first time in a long time, he wasn't completely alone.

Ariel exhaled, crossing his arms.

"…Fine."

Arthur grinned. "Great! Now, about our group name—"

"No," Alaric and Summer said at the same time.

Ariel sighed.

Maybe this wasn't so bad.

But it was definitely going to be exhausting.

The Road Ahead

That night, Ariel sat in his chamber, staring at the Soul Fragment resting in his palm.

It pulsed faintly, as if it had a heartbeat of its own.

There was so much he still didn't understand.

So much he needed to figure out.

He clenched his jaw.

He would.

Because now, he had a path forward.

The Lightbound Order wanted a hero? A savior?

Fine. He would become something greater.

He wouldn't let them define him.

He would define himself.

Ariel closed his eyes, the pulse of the fragment still thrumming against his skin.

Tomorrow, training would continue.

And he would be ready.